Voters at Ilejemeje LGA (photo credit: INEC)
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), an advocacy group, has commenced a lawsuit to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute the politicians who engaged in vote-buying during the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.
Famzn News understands SERAP in the suit filed on Friday before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, urged the court to order the Chairman of INEC, Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, to demand from law enforcement agencies the reports on the alleged vote-buying, so that culpable politician could be prosecuted.
In the suit, SERAP urged the court to order INEC to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to bring the Ekiti vote buyers to book.
The advocacy group in a suit filed by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, SERAP said its suit followed allegation that both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party engaged in vote-buying during the governorship election in Ekiti State.
The group claimed that, “till date, INEC and its Chairman have failed, neglected and/or refused to comply with the request by SERAP to prosecute alleged vote buyers.”
It contended that “INEC has no reason whatsoever not to comply with SERAP’s request, because the commission has constitutional and statutory responsibilities to prosecute bribery and undue influence in the context of elections and other electoral offences, as well as conduct and ensure a free and fair election.”